Experimental evaluation on punching shear resistance of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete flat slabs

Steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) consolidates under its own weight and has been shown to have the ability to provide an efficient reinforcement mechanism. The concrete with an adequate amount of steel fibre might increase the load and deformation capacities of the structural elements, particularly the tension dominant members. In this study, eight square slab specimens of the same size and reinforced with an identical and sufficient amount of flexural reinforcement were tested. The variables considered included types of concrete, slab thickness, types of shear reinforcement, and the limiting area of SFRSCC around the column. The results show that SFRSCC flat slabs performed well in terms of punching shear strength, ductility, and crack control. The results also reveal that slabs with SFRSCC within a square area around the column can be as efficient in resisting the punching shear as the ones with the SFRSCC cast over the entire slab.